Myths and Facts About Ketamine 

If you’ve heard rumors about ketamine, they’ve likely reinforced its recreational reputation. However, this anesthetic has many positive medical applications. Its unique properties make it well-suited for the treatment of different conditions, ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression to alcohol addiction. 

At Ketalink Ketamine Center in Levittown, New York, Dr. Hau Nguyen and his team administer safe, controlled ketamine infusions to treat chronic pain, PTSD, treatment resistant depression, and more.

Understanding ketamine 

Ketamine is an FDA-approved anesthetic that interacts with neurotransmitters in the brain to induce a dissociative state. The drug binds to NMDA receptors, which can improve mood and repair damage caused by long-term stress. 

The benefits of ketamine have led to an uptick in its use to treat various conditions, including: 

• Chronic pain
• Bipolar disorder
• Major depressive disorder 
• PTSD
• Alcohol addiction 
• Neuropathy

If you have any of the above conditions and conventional treatments haven’t worked for you, ketamine might be your solution.

Common misconceptions

A lot of people don’t know much about ketamine, and can easily get the idea that it is a dangerous street drug if they watch too many crime dramas. This might make you hesitant to try ketamine. However, ketamine can be effective when other treatment methods have failed, and is always administered in a safe, controlled environment. 

Myth: Ketamine is a just horse tranquilizer

Fact: Ketamine is an anesthetic agent that works on humans and animals. This does not mean ketamine is less refined than other drugs; it’s just more versatile. Plenty of other human drugs are used in veterinary medicine, including Xanax® (alprazolam) and corticosteroids.

Myth: Ketamine is an illegal party drug

Fact: Ketamine is not illegal, and many medications can be used as “party drugs.” The differences between K-holing and ketamine treatment are context, dosage, and intention; formal treatment involves careful administration and monitoring to ensure your well-being. 

Myth: Ketamine is dangerous and addictive

Fact: Ketamine is a controlled substance that is not inherently addictive or dangerous. In fact, ketamine is so safe and reliable that it’s been used in operating rooms, battlefields, and even pediatric settings. Ketamine has the potential to be dangerous when used recreationally in high doses with little oversight; it is not dangerous or addictive when used as prescribed by a professional like Dr. Nguyen.

Myth: Ketamine is reserved only for the most severe depression cases

Fact: While ketamine therapy used to be reserved for severe, treatment-resistant depression, it is becoming more accessible. Not everyone has the resources to switch medications multiple times before eventually qualifying for ketamine therapy.

Instead of making patients cycle through solutions with debatable benefits and side effects, many doctors are recommending ketamine therapy earlier in the treatment process, which can be great news for people who suffer from depression that has proven difficult to treat.

To learn more about ketamine therapy, schedule a consultation with the team at Ketalink Ketamine Center by calling 516-703-4937, or book online today.